Southwest Airlines Community

Happy National STEM Day! The Campus Reach Team at Southwest Airlines is committed to encouraging students of all ages to realize their passions in the realm of science, technology, engineering, and math. The Team hosted Aviation Days in Denver and Houston, and will host the event once more in Dallas this weekend, to introduce local students in third through eighth grade to STEM careers in aviation. Read more to hear from Structural Mechanic Nikki Sereika, who lends her time to Aviation Days and encourages students to pursue careers in STEM.   Looking back on the start of my Southwest career, I never could have imagined it would become what it is today. My career began at Southwest Airlines University (SWA U), our internal training department at the Company, but after doing a “Day in the Field” to learn about careers in Technical Operations (Maintenance), I discovered a new passion that brought me to where I am now. I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands, and in this role, I am able to channel that into everything I do. Since joining the Tech Ops Team, I’ve also been able to encourage others to consider outside-the-box careers. Events like Aviation Day are a great reminder of what I love about Southwest and, particularly, working in STEM.   The intent of Aviation Days is to inspire students about the different career paths that exist in the world of aviation. Kids come to Aviation Day with clean slates, ready to learn and explore. My favorite part of the day is answering all the questions they have. Although it might take them some time to warm up to everyone, they end up inspiring each other’s curiosity to learn more. I can share my experiences with them to facilitate their learning. Before you know it, they are thinking more about the world of aviation!   Throughout the event, students visit various stations, where they participate in activities such as flying desktop simulators, for hands-on experience in the work that People at Southwest do every day. The kids hear from many different key players in our industry, including Mechanics like me, as well as Pilots. Throughout the day, students are exposed to the wide variety of work we do here. In fact, that variety is my favorite part of the job.   One of the best parts about Aviation Days is that there is no cost to attend. Students can experience all that the world of aviation has to offer them, with no financial burden to their families. Boy and Girl Scouts can even work toward earning their respective aviation badges as a part of the day’s activities.   At the end of the day, the kids leave with insight into careers available to them in the future—jobs they may not have even known about! More importantly, I love seeing them leave with the confidence that they can be whatever they want to be when they grow up. There are no limits to the opportunities available to them. Nothing warms my Heart quite like knowing I play a role in creating the future leaders in STEM … and hopefully, at Southwest Airlines!   ... View more

Are you a college student looking for an internship or full-time career? If you answered “yes,” then mark your calendars, because Southwest’s Campus Reach Team would love to chat with YOU as we travel to university campuses across the country this fall.   Southwest Airlines is home to one of the most diverse internship programs in the country, with 415 Interns onboard with us from 123 different universities and 39 different states in 2017. What makes our internship so unique is our legendary Culture, our awesome benefits and perks, and of course, opportunities to take your career to new heights. Learn more about who we are at Southwest at one of our university visits this fall!   Check out the map below to see where and when the Campus Reach Team, other Southwest Employees, and Campus Ambassadors (former Southwest Interns local to your school) will be this fall.  We also plan to visit a few additional schools in the fall, more to come as we finalize the details:   Auburn University George Mason University Oklahoma State University Texas Southern University Texas Tech University University of South Carolina University of Texas at San Antonio   Career Fairs At Southwest we want you to have fun and enjoy your work. Career Fairs are a great opportunity to chat with Southwest Employees and Campus Ambassadors, and share your passions and interests with us. With a variety of positions available each semester, we want to connect you with potential internships or careers at Southwest that align with your career aspirations. And, don’t forget to pick up some Southwest giveaways at our booth. Who doesn’t love free swag?   Information Sessions College Interns at Southwest will not only get business experience in their particular field, but they will experience the famous Culture that makes Southwest Airlines home to some of the most highly sought-after internships year after year. We want to tell you about who we are at Southwest while learning about you in a more individualized setting!        Can’t find your university on our map? No problem! Tune in to our Southwest Airlines Instagram for our virtual information session on Tuesday, October 2.   Campus Ambassadors We decided who better to give you the inside scoop about an internship at Southwest then your peers who experienced our Company first-hand for a semester! We are thrilled to announce our recently developed Campus Ambassador Program, featuring a few of our outstanding Interns who are your resource on campus. Check out the map to see where we have Campus Ambassadors this fall.   Sneak Peek We offer spring and summer semester internships, as well as full-time opportunities for recent college grads. Apply online at careers.southwestair.com. See below for important dates, and visit careers.southwestair.com/campus-reach for the latest and greatest details.   Internship Opportunities Spring 2019 Apply Sept. 1-14 Internship dates: Jan. 21-May 3 Summer 2019 Apply Oct. 1-19 Internship dates: May 20-Aug. 9   Direct College Hire Opportunities Associate Business Analyst (ABA) and Associate Software Engineer (ASWE) Apply Sept. 24-Oct. 3 or March 6-13 Start in December, June, or August ... View more

Today is National Intern Day, and we interviewed Vice President Ground Operations (and former intern!) Anthony Gregory to discuss his career path at Southwest. Read on to learn more about Anthony’s story and his advice to interns everywhere. Happy National Intern Day to all of our current and former Southwest Interns! Thank you for your contributions to Southwest’s success. When you started at Southwest as an Intern in Financial Planning & Analysis, did you know you wanted to be a Leader here someday? “I did. We often say Southwest is successful because of our People, which is absolutely true. We have the best Employees, and the same is true for our Leaders. I believe our Leadership Team is the strongest in the industry. During college, I served as a leader in campus organizations, and quickly discovered that I wanted to serve as a leader at the world’s best airline and Company. Leading at Southwest was attractive because, even as an Intern, I witnessed so many Southwest Leaders who genuinely practiced Servant Leadership by putting their People first.”   What do you think are the biggest contributors to your success at Southwest? “Well, there's no shortage of great mentors and role models at Southwest. I've been fortunate to work alongside Leaders who are humble, yet fiercely competitive, about making Southwest as strong as we can be. I simply asked for time with Leaders who I admired and wanted to learn from, and I still do this today.   I joined Southwest just before the Great Recession, which was an extremely trying time for the industry. I saw early on that in order for us to remain successful and be the best airline in the world, we have to evolve as a Company. Change is hard, but it is important. It becomes possible with Leaders who are confident in the direction we must go and communicate with compassion, and with Employees who naturally work together as a Team.”   What advice would you give to interns in corporations across the country? “Be humble and be confident—humble to acknowledge that you have much to learn from those around you, but confident that you bring a unique set of skills and perspective to your team.” ... View more

  Here at Southwest Airlines, we love to celebrate just about everything! So, in celebration of this week's National Nut Day on October 22, we polled our fall 2017 Intern class to see why they're “nuts” about Southwest Airlines:   “I was nuts about Southwest from the first day I walked into headquarters for Intern Orientation. I went NUTS again when I saw the new 737-800 MAX outside the hangar.” –Christopher “I am nuts about the two free bags fly free, to the singing flight attendants, and all the love they spread around the world, and now to the newest destination, Hawaii!” -Hillary “I am nuts about going on weekend travel adventures with my fellow Interns and Cohearts! Not to mention, the Monday Deck Parties!” –Andrea “I am nuts about working with my amazing, Fun-LUVing Cohearts!” –Jasmin “I am nuts about grabbing lunch every day with fellow Interns and catching up on new adventures, projects, and stories!” –Jacob “I am nuts about Southwest Airlines and getting to experience 'LUV'—a whole new, and insurmountable type of lovin.” –Madison “I am nuts about the Culture, Leadership style, learning, Fun-LUVing Attitude, and flight privileges!” –Sayukti   “I am nuts about the People I've met! My roommates and I have become a little Family, and my Team is comprised of wonderful People!”-Tashina “I am nuts about the exciting opportunities and events that we get to attend as Interns! I've had the chance to spend days-in-the-field in different departments, gain greater insight into our outreach programs, and attend all of the fun events that portray Southwest's Culture so well! “ –Taylor   Do you want to join the “nuts” Southwest Family? Apply for our summer 2018 internship program on October 23 at southwest.com/careers.     ... View more

This summer, the Campus Reach Team held Southwest Airlines’ first Network Planning Bootcamp at Southwest’s Headquarters in Dallas, TX. Network Planning Bootcamp is a two-day, career development event for college students pursuing an education in related fields. The event introduces participants to Network Planning’s core competencies and functions. Students develop the skills needed for a successful career in Network Planning through hands-on and experiential learning.   The Campus Reach Team leveraged college and university partnerships to connect with interested, potential student participants. We were excited to have 59 college students attend the Network Planning Bootcamp, from 10 universities across the U.S. The below is written by Network Planning Bootcamp attendee and student at the University of Alabama, Hudson Hadd.   Howdy, my name is Hudson Hadd and I am from Austin, Texas. I am a junior at the University of Alabama, majoring in Operations Management. Growing up, I was always fascinated by airports and the sheer amount of logistics required for their operation to run smoothly. Throughout my life, I watched Southwest Airline’s Passenger count surge as they added non-stop flights from the Austin, Bergstorm International Airport. So, when the opportunity arose to attend Southwest’s Network Planning Bootcamp, I did not hesitate to apply.   The Network Planning Bootcamp was a day and a half whirlwind of activities. My main takeaway was how interwoven Network Planning is with other Company Departments. We met with representatives from Ground Operations, Revenue Management, and the NOC to discuss their Department’s connection to Network Planning. These discussions helped me understand the many factors Network Planning has to consider before executing a plan. For example, allowing more turn-time on a Sunday afternoon flight from Orlando to Chicago rather than an evening route from Houston to Dallas on a weekday. The first day of Bootcamp, we played various games (like musical gates). These games helped me to visualize some of the constraints Network Planning has to consider. These activities laid the groundwork for the second day of camp and our primary challenge.   On Day 2, we were introduced to the Network Planning game. Each group was given a fleet of eight planes along with various routes that had to be included in our mock schedules, and routes we could include if space permitted. We received additional information, like minimum turn-times for each airport, curfews, gate restraints, and more. The groups had an hour to come up with the best schedule that met all the requirements and constraints.   I could have easily spent all day working on our schedule! Unfortunately, the hour flew by. While my group’s schedule was not perfect, we were quite satisfied with it. Even though the game was short, it gave a quick glance into the world of a Network Planner and summarized everything we learned at Bootcamp.   My interest in pursuing an internship or full-time opportunity with Southwest increased exponentially after witnessing the Company’s one-of-a-kind Culture. I look forward to applying for a Spring 2018 internship and hopefully having the opportunity to build upon the knowledge I gained at the first ever Network Planning Bootcamp.               ... View more

Are you a college student looking for an internship or full-time career? If so, the Campus Reach Team would love to chat with YOU as we travel to university campuses across the country this fall.   Check out the map to see where and when the Campus Reach Team (and other Southwest Employees!) will be on campus and mark your calendars! While the below map only covers our September visits, make sure to check back on Community and our Campus Reach Facebook page in a few weeks to see our October calendar of events. We will continue promoting our opportunities over the next several months—and then again in the spring of 2018. Campus Reach September Campus EventsWhat can you expect from the university visits? We want to tell you all about who we are at Southwest Airlines, including our famous Culture, our awesome WorkPerks, and of course, opportunities for you and your future.   Career Fairs: Come chat with Southwest Employees and tell us about yourself, major, and overall interests. We want to connect your interests to a potential internship or job at Southwest! Don’t forget to pick up some free SWAG (giveaways) at our booth as well!   Information Sessions: Get an inside look into Southwest and our Culture, while learning about job and internship opportunities at Southwest Airlines. We also want to connect with you 1:1, after the presentation, to learn a little more about you and chat about next steps to hopefully experiencing the Flight of your Life!    If you don’t see your university mentioned on the map, do not worry, we are still here for YOU! We want to see your application in the near future, in hopes of joining the Southwest Family one day.   Sneak Peak: We offer internships during the Spring, Summer, and Fall semesters, as well as full-time opportunities for new college grads. Don’t miss out–apply online at southwest.com/careers. See below for some important dates, and make sure to always check out our website, www.southwest.com/campusreach, for the latest and greatest.   Internship Opportunities Spring 2018 Application Period: August 21, 2017 – September 22, 2017 Internship Dates: January 22, 2018 – May 4, 2018 Summer 2018 Application Period: October 23, 2017 – November 17, 2017 Internship Dates: May 21, 2018 – August 10, 2018 Associate Business Analyst (ABA) and Associate Software Engineer (ASWE) Fall Application Period: September 25, 2017 – October 2, 2017 Start Dates: December, June, August   ... View more

Southwest Airline’s Campus Reach Team is dedicated to developing Southwest’s talent pipeline through internships and other diverse programs. Campus Reach is responsible for all of Southwest’s student engagement and hiring efforts. The Team is devoted to developing and implementing cutting-edge programs, engineered to expand Southwest’s recruiting reach. Campus Reach designed Southwest’s High School Internship program to extend the Company’s recruiting efforts beyond the college level. The High School Internship program opens students’ eyes to a career in aviation and the “world of work” at Southwest Airlines.   Six weeks ago, the Campus Reach Team welcomed our second class of High School Interns to the Company.  The 16 Interns, spread across five different departments, have been making an immediate impact by assisting with several projects within their designated teams. With the summer winding down, two of the Interns shared about their time within our newest participating departments, Ground Operations and Supply Chain. Both Kaylee and Aman have embraced the Southwest Airlines Culture. Here is what they have to say about their experience:   Kaylee:  From cheerful greetings every morning, to challenging projects, to more free cookies than I can eat, I can’t imagine a better summer job for a seventeen-year-old than interning at Southwest Airlines.   My name is Kaylee Kimbrough and I’m a rising high school senior from Greenville, Texas. I study math and computer science as an early college student at Eastfield College. I am also taking online AP classes with teachers and classmates from all around the world as a student in the PAHomeschoolers AP Online program. I found Southwest’s High School Internship Program while searching for a summer job opportunity that would also strengthen my resume.  I was lucky enough to interview, and be selected for, an internship supporting Vendor Services within the Ground Operations Department. I’ve had the opportunity to work on exciting projects related to the delayed and lost baggage delivery process. In all the work I’ve done, whether tracking quality assurance scores or revising baggage delivery surveys, I’ve seen a direct connection to Southwest’s performance and Customer Service.  These projects also challenged me technically and creatively. I’m incredibly fortunate to have Leaders that trust me when I say, “I don’t know exactly how to do this, but I know I can figure it out.”   In addition, Southwest’s commitment to its People humbles me every single day. In the short six weeks I’ve been here, I toured the airport, hangar, and NOC, attended an address from CEO Gary Kelly, sat in on crew scheduling, participated in Ground Ops and Provisioning meetings, networked with Senior Leaders, and learned interviewing tips. I also receive daily mentorship and career advice from my Cohearts, including college Interns, Senior Directors, and everyone in between.   Based on my experience, Southwest’s foremost concern is helping their Interns learn and grow. I’m so grateful to have this opportunity, and know I will continue to benefit from the experiences I had and connections I’ve made at Southwest Airlines.   Aman: As soon as I walked into Southwest Airlines’ High School Intern “speed-dating” interview process, I knew I was stepping into a business based on more than just work. I was at the front door of a Family consisting of the most exciting, hardworking individuals I have ever met. As soon as I left Southwest’s Headquarters, I knew I had witnessed something much bigger than an aviation Company.   My name is Aman Patel and I am a rising senior at Carroll Senior High School in Southlake, Texas. I’m an active member of my school’s debate team and, aside from the textbooks, I love playing beach volleyball and hanging out with my friends. I am having the time of my life as an Intern in the Supplier Performance Department, working at Southwest’s Dallas hangar. My daily tasks include working with Excel spreadsheets and reading through contracts. My time at Southwest created some of my most memorable experiences to date and I am truly thankful for this opportunity.   Coming into this, I was a nervous teenager who thought that my Dad was just easing my nerves when he said there is a true sense of community here. Now, I walk to my cubicle with a smile on my face because I love where I am and who I’m surrounded by. Every part of Southwest Airlines – the processes, People, and overall environment – contributes to a workforce that embodies a deep commitment to the Company’s initiatives and principles. This amazing Culture inspires Employees to work with diligence and passion.   In addition to all the fun, I’ve learned so much from my diversely talented Team, days in the field with various departments, and other Employee interactions. My time at Southwest has taught me technical work skills as well as the immense value of a driven work ethic and the boundless potential of a devoted community at work. Implementing these lessons outside of the office, or Living the Southwest Way, has already made me a better Leader.   Overall, the Campus Reach Program has been a life-changing experience and I cannot wait to use everything I learned. I am not done at Southwest Airlines!           ... View more

For the second summer, Southwest's Campus Reach Team is excited to offer Dallas-area students opportunities to learn about the aviation industry and experience the Southwest Culture firsthand. The 16 participants come to us from 13 different schools in the Dallas Metroplex, joining seven different departments. During this eight-week program, they will be shadowing Employees, attending our High School Summer Camp, and taking on projects of their own in their designated areas.    This program is one of the many strategies in place to build a talent pipeline for our future workforce. Within the last year, the High School Internship Program has grown by 60 percent, and we're thrilled to have two additional departments participating this summer--Supply Chain and Ground Operations.   As the program grows, we expect to expand to give high school students more opportunities to experience what it’s like to work at Southwest Airlines. This will help us cater to students who want to enter the workforce straight out of high school, as well as those who may want to explore an aviation focus in college, in hopes of joining Southwest again in the future.   Stay tuned later this summer to learn about some of our Interns' experiences! ... View more

The Campus Reach program identifies and engages future Southwest Employees at an early age, hopefully inspiring an interest in a career in aviation! We were honored to join more than 90 girls (grades 3 to 😎 at Purdue University’s first Girls in Aviation Day on September 24.     The day started out with a grand welcome in the Purdue Aviation Hangar, a brief overview of the industry, mingling with event sponsors, and checking out the Amelia Earhart display. After the kick-off, the girls broke into teams to participate in activities. The activities included a Southwest Airlines session where the girls took part in a Network Operations game. They learned how to read an operational flowsheet with three different routes in one day and constructed airplanes out of materials that you can find on an airplane (cans, napkins, pretzels, etc.). It was an incredible experience to watch the girls light up as they learned new things and successfully completed activities throughout the day.   Other sponsor sessions included the following: Aviation 101: learned about the basics of flight Safety Wire Bracelet Session: learned about electrical connections Marshalling: learned how to marshal an aircraft Aviation Careers: learned about aviation careers within the industry Aircraft Display: observed two commercial aircraft that were parked on the tarmac   During the lunch break, one of our very own First Officers (and former Southwest Intern!), Kristen Veith, spoke about her aviation journey and what inspired her to become a Pilot.     To close the day, the president of the Purdue Women in Aviation Club presented certificates of completion to the girls, thanked the sponsors, and closed out with a celebration with cake for all of the participants and their parents!  The day reminded us how lucky we are to have a career that we LUV, and everyone’s ear-to-ear smiles said it all. The girls’ hugs and handshakes were the perfect end to a fantastic event!     In addition to our Company sponsorship, we donated sunglasses, stickers, luggage tags, and pencils for each girl. Overall, we were excited to have the opportunity to engage and inspire these young girls toward careers in aviation … and, especially, careers at Southwest Airlines.   Fun Fact: Southwest Airlines’ relationship with Purdue University began in 1971 when many of our Original Employees came over from the airline the University had operated, including both Pilots on our very first flight. ... View more

Former intern Nick Mansfield shares his story about how the Southwest Internship Program has helped him grow.   About six months prior to the Internship, I decided on a whim to try something different for the second semester of my junior year. I’m a native Californian, but I attend Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. Bowdoin juniors typically go abroad second semester, but I was looking for something different. Southwest Airlines’ internship program provided a perfect opportunity for growth at just the right time. I moved to Dallas for the semester in late January, while friends back in Maine wrapped up pond-hockey tournaments and prepared to hunker down for a long, cold winter.   From day one, it was apparent how much Southwest values its youngest Team Members. As an Intern, it was humbling to be viewed as an investment, rather than just a temporary tool. For instance, my Team spent the first five or six weeks of the internship making sure I was up to speed on our tools, data, and industry jargon. As an Intern on the Market Strategy Pricing Team in Revenue Management, I spent three and a half months digging into what drives the performance of our markets. Whether it be a schedule change, a competitor’s pricing action, or something totally out of the box, it’s been fascinating applying my training in order to tell the story of what happened and how we can improve. More broadly, it’s been eye opening seeing how competitive the airline industry really is, as well as the amount of work and orchestration it takes to ensure 3,900 daily departures are orchestrated without a hitch.     It’s hard to overstate how much I’ve loved my time in Dallas as a member of the Southwest Team. As an Aviation Geek (“avgeek”), I felt right at home. Apart from work, flight perks provided a fantastic opportunity to engage our Fun-LUVing sides, and sometimes our Warrior Spirit. Handing out peanuts to Passengers might be all in a day’s work for our Flight Crews, but I know it’s a story many Fellow Interns and I will be telling for years to come.   I feel truly blessed to have gotten a short taste of Living the Southwest Way. It’s been repeated time and time again, but Southwest really is a special place. Employees carry themselves with a purpose that permeates throughout the Company, and it’s evident that people are proud to be members of this Family. I cannot thank Southwest enough for the opportunity to learn, contribute, and grow, and I hope to be back in the future! ... View more

This summer, the Campus Reach Team launched a high school internship program to encourage students to pursue aviation and STEM-related degrees, and build Southwest’s talent pipeline for the future.  The first class of high school Interns consisted of ten students, from six different Dallas/Ft. Worth-area schools, working in five departments: People, SWA U, Corporate Delivery, Facilities, and Tech Ops. The high school Interns were able to get real world work experience while also having the opportunity to get engaged into the Southwest Culture and see how we do business.   From day one, the Interns began learning their department’s daily functions and helping out with ongoing projects. For instance, one Intern was able to work on a project and provide voice over for a traning video, “Look! It’s a Bird! It’s a Plane.”   Another put together a process flow document for software that previously didn’t have user instructions. One Intern had the opportunity to share her experience by writing a blog on Community.Southwest.com, and another shared her testimony for the Campus Reach Facebook page.  They were very active during their eight weeks at Southwest Airlines!    In addition to the work the Interns completed, they were able to attend Southwest’s three-day Summer Camp offered to Employees’ high school-aged dependents, and were exposed to 18 different Departments at Southwest. During the camp, the Interns enjoyed having face time with six Vice Presidents, and had dinner with Herb and Colleen! Overall, they gained a well-rounded experience throughout the internship, flexed their Servant’s Heart muscle by cleaning up the Trinity River, and got to experience life at the airport during a facility tour at William P. Hobby Airport.    Moving forward, the Campus Reach Team will continue to engage young students around our network by expanding internship opportunities to additional departments and locations. Building the pipeline of the future is necessary for Southwest, and we hope to have high school Interns in as many communities we serve as possible. Stay tuned for more information on 2017 high school internships!   ... View more

More than 125 students from 21 states are attending Southwest Summer Camp in Dallas this week. Camp is free for Employees’ high school-aged students, and is an innovative way our Campus Reach Team is building Southwest’s talent pipeline—engaging students at an early age, inspiring an interest in aviation, and providing a path to return as an intern or full-time Employee at Southwest. We have to get creative in how we recruit in an increasingly competitive landscape. In its second year, Southwest Summer Camp opens students’ eyes to the “world of work” at Southwest Airlines, inspires new career goals, and fosters a recruiting network. After camp, students should be able to: Identify career opportunities available at Southwest (full-time employment and internships) and know how to apply for them Discover possible career paths based on their interests and strengths Prepare for the career(s) of their choice and network with potential connections In addition to Southwest Summer Camp, the Campus Reach Team engages millennials through a nationally recognized collegiate internship program, high school internships and partnerships, trade school partnerships, and an MBA program.   ... View more